Process and resilient assembly apt to absorb vibrations or shocks and/or to transmit torques



March 8, 1966 c. CAMOSSI 3,239,207

PROCESS AND RESILIENT ASSEMBLY APT TO ABSORB VIBRATIONS OR SHOCKS AND/OR To TRANSMIT TORQUES Filed Oct. 18, 1963 S Sheets-Sheet 1 F/CZ 6 INVEN TOR. ARLO CAMossi BY I Attfis.

March 8, 1966 Q cAMossl 3,239,207

PROCESS AND RESILIENT ASSEMBLY APT TO ABSORB VIBRATIONS OR SHOCKS AND/OR TO TRANSMIT TORQUES Filed Oct. 18, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 at 0 F/G.70

I INVENTOR. CARLO CAMOSSI United States Patent 3,239,207 PRUQESS AND RESILIENT ASSEMBLY APT Tl) ABSURB VIBRATHGNS UR SHQCKS AND/UR T9 TRANSMHT IQRQUES Carlo Camossi, Milan, Italy, assignor, by mesne assignmeats, to Cable Isolation Systems, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 317,231 Claims priority, application Italy, May 17, 1963, 10,294/63; .luly 16, 1963, 14,869/63 11 Claims. (til. 267-1) It was found that if a cable, constituted by one or more wire strands, wherein the wire strands are in turn constituted by several elementary filaments, is subjected to a twisting action, it is possible to note the following facts:

(A) The cable twist angle is remarkably greater than the twist angle that may be obtained with a solid homogeneous piece, of the same material as the cable, of the same size and subjected to the same torque.

(B) During the twisting of the cable, due to the relative displacement occuring between each single filament or wire, and between each wire strand, there is developed between the surface of the above mentioned elements a friction which resists to the torque and absorbs in part the external work applied to the cable. In other words the external torsional work applied to the cable is transformed not only to an elastic potential energy of the cable (such as for instance in springs) but also in heat due to the friction (in the same way as it occurs in shock absorbers of any type), which means that the cable under a twisting deformation, can be considered in the same way as a dampening spring.

When an external twisting torque is of a reciprocating type with harmonics of different order, a cable will therefore absorb part of the external mechanical energy, by transforming it to heat, thus acting as a true and proper antivibrating shock absorber.

The present invention concerns all those kinematic and mechanical systems that can be obtained by taking separately and jointly the advantages of the above mentioned features, and it is an object thereof to use cables subjected to torsional stresses, eventually combined with bending stresses in order to realize vibration dampers or cushioned members for transmitting forces.

Shock absorbers according to the invention concern in practice a very large range of applications, and, since the basic principle does not change in all the various embodiments, only two very important and useful examples will be described, they are: a shock absorber for weaving looms and washing machines.

These particular applications enable the elimination of the consequences of the shock of two solid bodies at the moment of their impact. Such a shock can occur between two bodies, one of which being stationary and the other one in motion, or between two mobile bodies both moving in opposite and concurrent directions: the shock absorber absorbs gradually and progressively the kinetic energy (living force) of one or both masses and the vibrations generated therefrom, so as to ensure a quiet and noiseless movement, that was impossible up to now.

Other objects and advantages of these shock absorbers include the possibility of limiting the braking action, in a very little space; enabling a micrometric adjustment of the stroke; preventing the transmission of vibrations from one member to the other one; theoretically avoiding the necessity of lubrication, and of maintenance; facilitating the adjustment to variable powers on the same support either by varying the number of the cables, their length or their diameter, or the sense of their twisting.

The essential features of the anti-shocks and antivibration shock absorbers, include the subjecting to twisting and/or bending stresses one or more segments of metal or plastic cables, the ends of which also in one or more intermediate regions are respectively constrained by the bodies which are subjected to a contrasting motion.

The cable segments arranged in parallel relation can have their own twisting directed in the same sense or in opposite sense relative to that of the segment of the adjacent cable; the arms connected with respective mobile bodies can be placed symmetrically or asymmetrically with regards to the motion direction.

The following specification is to be considered together with the attached drawings, wherein there are shown, in the way of examples, the principles and the elementary applications of the present invention, as well as numerous different embodiments and applications thereof that do not limit this invention. In the drawings:

FIGURES l and 2 are views of a simple cable torsion element and a dual torsion element according to the invention;

FIGURES 3 and 3 are side and end elevations respectively of the device of FIGURE 2 provided with means for applying a torsional force to the cable ends;

FIGURES 4 and 4' are views similar to FIGURES 3 and 3 of a more complex device embodying two cables;

FIGURES 5 and 5' are end and side elevations of a similar but modified device embodying six cables;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are end elevations of two devices similar to that shown in FIG. 5 but more complex;

FIGURES 8 and 8' are plan and elevational (partly sectional) views respectively of a modified embodiment in which the cables are crossed;

FIGURES 9 and 9' are end and side elevations of modified devices employing one of the FIGURE 8 devices assembled to a pair of dual torsion elements for absorption of shocks applied from any direction;

FIGURES 10 and 10' are side and end elevations of still another arrangement of torsional cables;

FIGURES 11 and 12 show a buffer of asymmetric type for weaving looms in a lateral view and top view respectively;

FIGURES 13 and 14 show a buffer of symmetric type according to the modified embodiment respectively in a partially sectioned lateral view, and in a top view; and

FIGURES 15 and 16 show an anti-vibrations shock absorber of asymmetric type, particularly for washing machines, in two elevational views which are perpendicular to each other.

An example of exploitation of the torsional property of the cable can be obtained by considering a length of cable C, of various types, with one end 1 constrained to a stationary system, and the other end 2 connected to a movable system (see FIGURE 1).

Thanks to the high torsional possibilities of the cable C, the movable system connected to the cable end 2 can undergo, relative to the stationary system, a small rotary movement, in the direction of the cable twisting, and a larger rotary movement in the opposite direction, but at any rate adjustable by means of a preliminary loading.

An application of such a principle may be realized, simply in the way of an example, in door hinges, swiveling seats, seat and chair backs, in sundry linkages and articulations, in couplings of different type, and in all those kinematic and mechanical systems, wherein, due to the cable torsion, it is possible to effect a restrained oscillating or rotatory movement relative to a stationary point.

An example of exploitation of the torsional features of the cable combined with its antivibrating characteristics may be obtained in all those mechanisms wherein for instance a reciprocating rotatory movement occurs accompanied by variable accelerations during the movement itself; an example can be the whipping member of a vertical washing machine; the Windshield wiper of a car,

and so on. In such mechanisms, by substituting with a cable the rigid pivot connecting the driven part to the driving one, there is obtained not only the absorption of eventual vibration, but above all there are obtained less important accelerations during the reversal movement stages.

The torsional element shown in FIGURE 1 can further originate, by varying the restraining system, other torsional elements that extend the torsional and anti-vibration applications of the cable, as shown in the successive examples.

Assuming for instance that the cable be applied or extended beyond the fixed point 1, so as to obtain at the end opposite to the point 2, a second movable point 3, there will be obtained a dual torsional element, as shown in FIGURE 2, with the cable C rigidly restrained from twisting in its central portion, corresponding to the point 1, and with the ends 2 and 3 free to rotate about the cable axis, with a rotational concordant or discordant movement. Should two short arms 4 (see FIGURES 3-3) be rigidly connected to the ends of the free parts 2 and 3 and such arms further joined together by a crossmember 5, such cross-member will be in a condition to perform a reciprocating movement about the cable axis, utilising the torsional possibilities of the cable itself. It is to be noted, further, that the reciprocating movement of the cross-member 5, by exploiting the dampening features of the cable, becomes an elastic and dampened reciprocating movement.

The cross-member 5 (see FIGURES 33) can in turn be constituted by a dual torsional element, as shown in the FIGURE 2, thereby realizing an assemblage as shown at 2, C, 1, 3 in FIGURE 4.

The embodiments deriving from the different applications of the elements according to FIGURES 2, 3, 3' and 4, 4 are numerous. A typical example may be represented by the case of the resilient shock absorbers.

The FIGURES 5 and 5 constitute an example of the application of a pair of three dual torsional elements C. By rigidly constraining the lower portion of such an assemblage and by applying to the upper portion 11 a variable force F constituted for instance by an oscillating mass, the element in question can perform the function of a dampened spring.

To the pair of many dual torsional elements such as C, of FIGURES 5 and 5 three can be added a third one or even a greater number of dual torsion elements such as C, as shown in FIGURE 6. By giving to the cables interconnecting the elements 10 and 12 torsional characteristics different from those of the connecting cables, between the elements 10 and 11, the law governing the stretching as a function of the strain (when the device is used for instance as a shock absorber) can deviate from the normal linear deformation law of springs, to follow a particular law depending from the use to which it may be applied. In other words, the device as above can be used and applied in place of particular spring applications with the difference that same can have a non linear strain, having at the same time remarkable vibration dampening features.

The elements as in FIGURES 4, 4'5, 5' and 6 besides performing their function of shock absorbers for compression or traction forces (as in the FIGURES 5, 5 and 6) may constitute an effective resilient dampened element for forces acting in opposite directions, as shown in FIGURE 7.

Therefore the assembly of FIGURE 7, formed by two elements It) and 11 carrying groups of torsional cables C and connected to the pull rods 13, 14 with force application points 15-16 acting in opposite directions, can perform the resilient dampening functions along two planes perpendicular to each other, i.e., a plane including points 15 and 16 and a plane perpendicular to part 11, contrary to conventional shock absorbers, that perform their action mainly along a single direction.

By using two dual elements perpendicular to each other, it is possible to realize a combined assemblage as shown in FIGURE 8. In the way of example one of the many applications of such a combined cross-shaped assemblage can be that of constituting the essential part of a shock absorber effective in all the three planes of application of the forces.

Indeed by applying to the ends 20, 21 and 22, 23 of such a cross-shaped assembly, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 8', two pairs of small rods 24, 24 that connect the crossed cable ends to the ends of a pair of dual torsion elements, one above and parallel to one crossed cable and the other below and parallel to the other crossed cable, (see FIGURES 9 and 9), there is obtained as a whole a resilient shock absorber operating in any direction of space.

Another of the manifold possible connections of simple or multiple elements, may be constituted as shown in FIGURE 10, wherein the resilient and dampening effect of the different C elements of at least two dual torsion elements are transmitted to the cross-bar 3 by means of arms 4. The stationary cores 1 are interconnected by a cross-bar 27.

In FIGURES 11 and 12 there is shown a practical example of a buffer which is constituted by a stationary support 57 and a movable part 58 mutually interconnected by the assembly of the dampening parts 59, constituted by two sets 53 of cable sections interconnected by short arms 55. The stationary support 57 is constituted by a pair of plates and 51, the base plate 50 whereof is applicable to the weaving loom by means of any preferred means, while the second plate 51 mates with the first one through a serrated surface plane, and is restrained to the plate 50 after a prior micrometric adjustment utilized for imparting an adjustable torsional pre-loading to the dampening cables 53-"3'. To this second plate 51 are fastened the sleeves 52, each of which is passed through by a cable section 53 fastened to same by means of one or more squashed or welded or die-cast zones. The cable ends 53 are in turn clamped in the outer sleeves 54 and fastened to them in any of the different ways already described above.

The outer sleeves 54 are also fastened with a pair of arms 55, parallel to each other and slanted relative to the plate 51, and secured at their opposite end to a set of sleeves 52-54, exactly similar to the sleeves 52-54. The intermediate sleeves 52' are in turn fastened to the movable plate 56 which is parallel to the plate 51, and secured at one end to the plate 56', perpendicular thereto, and carrying outwardly a buffer member 58' of a material suitable for receiving the blows. Therefore the assemblage 56-56'58 constitutes the movable part of the dampening unit subjected to the shocks, while the plurality of arms -55'-55" etc. constitute the completion of the quadrilateral, exploiting the torsion of cables 53 and 53' as a brake for the impact mass.

In the second practical example (FIGURES 13 and 14) there are a stationary supporting plate 60 wherefrom extends perpendicularly two parallel wings, suitably spaced apart 61, on which there are restrained, along two parallel rows positioned towards the lateral edges, a plurality of pairs of end sleeves 62 of as many cable sections 62', whose intermediate sleeve 63 has an elongated section operating as an arm. These sleeves 63 are all arranged obliquely and in the same direction, that is towards the inside. The movable part is constituted by a plate 64, carrying outwardly the buffer plate 65 receiving the blows, and by a shank 66 fastened to the plate 64 in a central position, whose end 66' extends through the stationary plate 60 and is provided with a couple of nuts 67, by means of which it is possible to adjust the relative position of the plates 64 and 60. The shank 66 besides, in correspondence with each pair of elements 63, carries a plate 68, suitably spaced from the adjacent ones, so as to remain exactly inserted between the arms 63 of one pair and the sleeves 62 of the immediately next pair of cable sections 62', While the plate 64 leans against the last arms 63 towards the outside. This buffer for weaving looms has the advantage of being able to be housed in a hermetic and sealed enclosure, not shown, to protect it from soiling deriving from the loom operation, and to prevent any tampering that might result in a faulty adjustment. Moreover this assembly lends itself to a remarkable space saving and therefore to a greater versatility of application.

In FIGURES and 16 there is shown a type of shock absorber of an antivibration capacity, for instance for washing machines; from the point of view of design and construction it is a reproduction of the example of the FIGURE 7, and therefore there is no need to give a detailed description of same; but only to state that the end '70 is linked to the revolving and swinging basket of a washing machine, and the end 71 is connected to the stationary bottom of the container surrounding and supporting the basket.

It is apparent that the embodiments illustrated in a way of example in FIGURES from 11 to 16 foresee several other applications, with suitable modifications of the anchoring, the linkage, and the adjustments so as to comply with various requirements.

The whole structure of these anti-shock and antivibration devices may be entirely metallic, preferably using stainless materials, suitable for particularly moist environments or in corrosive atmospheres; but they could also be made or lined with plastic materials, without therefore departing from the field of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A torsional shock absorber comprising first and second pairs of parallel cables each formed of a plurality of twisted strands and respectively lying in two parallel oifset planes, end sleeves affixed to the ends of each cable, a center sleeve aflixed to the center of each cable, rigid bars extending from one of said offset planes to the other and connecting the end sleeves of adjacent cables, a first force transmitting rod secured to the center sleeves of the cables in one of said planes, and a second force transmitting rod secured to the center sleeves of the cables lying in the other of said planes.

2. A torsional shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein said first transmitting rod is formed in two separate parallel parts having interengaged teeth, said parts being movable and provided with clamping means for micrometric adjustment of the initial torsion applied to said cables.

3. A torsional shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein each cable has its wires twisted in a direction opposite to that of the Wires of the adjacent cable.

4. A torsional shock absorber comprising at least two cables formed of a plurality of twisted strands, first securement means connecting the central portions of said cables, at least two further and similar cables each offset in a substantially parallel plane to one of said first two cables, second securement means connecting the central portions of said two further cables, and means connecting the ends of each of said first two cables to the corresponding ends of each of said two further cables, whereby forces applied to said first and second securement means result in twisting of the connected cables.

5. A torsional shock absorber comprising a first pair of cables, securement means connecting the central portions of the cables of said pair, a second pair of cables each offset from and substantially parallel to one of said first pair of cables, force transmitting means connected to the central portions of said second pair of cables, and means connecting the ends of each of said first pair of cables to corresponding ends of the second pair of cables.

6. A torsional shock absorber according to claim 5 wherein said twisted strands of said cables are formed of plastic material.

7. A shock absorber according to claim 5 wherein said first pair of cables are parallel to each other and each of the cables of said second pair of cables.

8. A shock absorber according to claim 5 wherein said first pair of cables cross each other.

9. A shock absorber according to claim 5 wherein said securement and force transmitting means comprise rods for transmitting force from a pair of support bodies to :be connected thereto.

10. A shock absorber according to claim 9 wherein said rods are disposed substantially parallel to one another and parallel to planes including said first and second pairs of cables.

11. A torsional shock absorber comprising at least three pairs of parallel cables formed of a plurality of twisted strands each pair lying in one of at least three offset parallel planes, first, second and third securing means connecting the cables of each pair near their centers to one another, and rigid arms connecting the ends of cables in one plane to the adjacent ends of the cables lying in adjacent planes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 169,032 10/1875 Paris.

203,739 5/1878 Kilburn 267-1 265,899 10/1882 Wetmore 26757 838,882 12/1906 Morgan 642 2,198,447 4/ 1940 Witte 267-57 X 3,023,993 3/1962 Kerley 2671 3,025,031 3/1962 Kerley 267l X 3,052,003 9/1962 Eyler 24-l23 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,804 4/ 1926 France.

977,121 11/ 1950 France.

759,204 3/ 1953 Germany.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. 

5. A TORSIONAL SHOCK ABSORBER COMPRISING A FIRST PAIR OF CABLES, SECUREMENT MEANS CONNECTING THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE CABLES OF SAID PAIR, A SECOND PAIR OF CABLES EACH OFFSET FROM AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF CABLES, FORCE TRANSMITTING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF CABLES, AND MEANS CONNECTING THE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF CABLES TO CORRESPONDING ENDS OF THE SECOND PAIR OF CABLES. 